Canon 85mm f2 macro IS vs Samyang 85mm f1.4

tkbslc wrote:

NowHearThis wrote:

tkbslc wrote:

NowHearThis wrote:

tkbslc wrote:

NowHearThis wrote:

Francis A wrote:

With the canon coming in at 599 against samyang's 699 (B&H price), which one would you get?

The other reason I would pick the Canon over the Samyang is because I see to many conflicting reports on the Samyang and for some of the reviews it seems like I'd be stopping the lens to F2 at least anyway.

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**Review of the Samyang AF 85/1.4 for EF** (I'm assuming the optical formula is the same)

It's not the same. It's the same as the Sony E version. Dustin Abbot and Christopher Frost are the only two reviews of the new RF version that I have found and they say it's an outstanding lens.

Dustin Abbot compares it with the RF 85 1.2L and says it is "surprisingly competitive", "quite sharp from f1.4 on" and "near perfect for portrait work".

He also said he was not as happy with the EF version.

Christopher Frost's video summary was, "I love it".

Yeah, I guess it's ephotozine's and photographyblog's that weren't as enthusiastic. I did see that the RF and FE version has a new optical formula over the EF and Nikon F mount versions - which explains why it does better. Still for $100 less, I'd still take the RF85mm and get the Control Ring and IS (Especially since I won't get either the R5/6 for a while - Hopefully the R will be mine by end of year).

I don't know man, part of me is wondering why get a fast prime only to leave a stop of light and bg blur on the table? I would prefer a Canon brand lens, but it's a whole stop!

Right now I'm only using the Panasonic 42.5/1.7 on M43, which does pretty well for me. The RF85/2 would give me so much more background blur then what I currently have while not being too shallow for my tastes. And given the R is pretty clean through ISO6400 and my Pen-F is only good through ISO800 (maybe). I'm not worried about one stop of light; in fact I've never used my 42.5/1.7 anywhere but outdoors so my only concern with light is having too much. YMMV, I guess that's why there's choices.

With that logic, why would you need OIS? If you always have so much light? Just need 1/100 shutter speed with an 85mm on FF and that's where you'd want to be to shoot portraits to prevent subject motion blur.

Unfortunately the transplant medication I'm on leaves me with somewhat shaky hands.  Having several stops of IS really helps.  The 8 stops of IS on the R5/6 really sound appealing, but the IS in the lens on the R body will suffice for now.  It does for my current gear.